Archives at Cornell

Cigarette silk collection

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: 6612

Scope and content

Cigarette silks and tobacco felts. Included in this collection are images of actresses, sports figures, flowers, flags, birds, and other subjects. Also satin and felt "cards" depicting Cornell subjects. Some are likely from the American Tobacco Company, which produced Egyptienne Luxury brand.

Scope and content

Includes a Murad silk of a Cornell football player (MU-4659), and a 1910 Murad tobacco silk with a Cornell track athlete (hurdles) and the seal of the university (gift of Jerrie Moore.) Also includes an Egyptienne Luxury brand silk with the seal of the university (MU-956).

Dates

[ca. 1900-1935]

Biographical / Historical

Between about 1910 and 1916, tobacco companies began providing small textiles as premiums with the purchase of cigarette packages, perhaps to attract women consumers. These cigarette "silks" were generally made of satin; some woven and some printed.